ST. LOUIS - The St. Louis Cardinals are shaking up their coaching staff, the Chicago Cubs are shaking up their lineup, and everyone else in baseball is shaking their head.

In what was supposed to be the infancy of a Cubs dynasty and a bounce-back year for the Cardinals, the two National League powerhouses instead epitomize the woeful NL Central.

We’re nearing mid-June, and the Milwaukee Brewers, of all teams, are the lone club in the NL Central with a winning record.

And just barely, two games above .500.

“The good news is that when you don’t have a team that just runs away with it, it allows you to believe you have a chance,” Cardinals general manager John Mozeliak told USA TODAY Sports. “Last year, by July 4, we knew we were chasing something that would be hard to catch. Basically, you were playing for the wild card.”

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Ah, yes, a year ago, the Cubs were 42-18 with a nine-game lead in the NL Central en route to a runaway division title, winning 103 games and their first World Series title in 108 years.

These days, they are nothing more than mediocre, 31-31, after losing three of four games to the Colorado Rockies at Wrigley Field.

But life is so deplorable in the NL Central that mediocrity is actually a good thing.

“This is probably the lowest point that I’ve been here,” reigning NL MVP Kris Bryant told Chicago reporters. “But it’s really not that bad when you look at it in context of the division. Nobody’s really taken off like some of the other divisions out there, or like we did last year. So you’ve just to keep your head up.”

In a league that only has five teams with winning records, the NL Central has been an embarrassment, going 30-47 against the NL West and 13-27 in interleague play.

The Cardinals, 29-32 despite sweeping the woeful Philadelphia Phillies, have lost 17 of their last 25 games. The Cincinnati Reds (29-33) have lost 18 of their last 28 games. And the last-place Pirates (28-35) haven’t been above .500 since the fifth game of the season.

“Everybody here is ashamed the way we played the last couple of weeks,” Cardinals shortstop Aledmys Diaz said.

It’s gotten so ugly that Mozeliak called a news conference to announce they’d fired third-base coach Chris Maloney — their first in-season coaching dismissal in 16 years — and upstaged the news by revealing there could be more firings by the end of the year if things don’t soon change.

“I think everybody, including myself, is not in the most secure situation right now,” Mozeliak said. “Expectations from ownership on down are very high. And when you’re under-performing, people have to make changes. …

“Everybody’s frustrated. We could no longer stand still and do nothing.”

The Cubs haven’t fired anyone yet, with the World Series banner still flapping in the breeze to provide solace, but it will be a long, ugly winter in Chicago if they miss the playoffs.

‘‘I don’t have any strong explanations for it,” Cubs manager Joe Maddon told reporters. “A lot of guys are really struggling badly at the same time. They’re the same guys that we rode to the World Series last year, and they’re very good young players.”

Kyle Schwarber, one of the Cubs’ World Series heroes, won’t keep hitting .171 all year, will he? Jake Arrieta, the 2015 Cy Young Award winner who has a 4.68 ERA, will eventually find the life on his fastball, right? An offense that bludgeoned teams last year with a staggering 252-run differential, can’t continue to have the second-worst offense in the major leagues with a .233 batting average, correct?

Then again, as miserable as the Cubs have been on offense has been this year, they can cheer themselves up by checking out the Cardinals’ statistics.

It’s no wonder Mozeliak paused, giving him a chance to collect his thoughts, when asked if he thought the Cardinals were a playoff contender.

“Not if we don’t start hitting,” he said. “It’s hard to win when you’re scoring 2 ½ runs a game.’’

The most excruciating aspect of the Cardinals’ troubles is that they’re wasting the best starting pitching in the land. They lead the major leagues with a 3.48 ERA and .233 opponent’s batting average, but their bullpen has been horrendous. They’ve been outscored, 116-67, after the sixth inning.

Yet, as poorly as the Cubs and Cardinals have played, they’ve managed to stay alive. The Cubs are just one game out of first place and the Cardinals are 2 ½ out.

“You look at the whole division, and nobody’s playing well,’’ Cardinals starter Lance Lynn says. “Somebody’s got to get hot and start doing something. Why not be us?’’

Certainly, logic tells us it won’t be the Pirates, not with the drug suspension of Starling Marte and third baseman Jung Ho Kang stuck in South Korea, unable to get a work visa after his suspended prison sentence for DUI charges. It won’t be the Reds, who have the finest bullpen arms in the division, but have a major-league worst 5.87 rotation ERA, and are in a full-scale rebuilding mode.

It’s tough to believe in the Brewers, either, who also are rebuilding and not expected to contend until 2019, but it’s a little silly to count them out when they’re in first place, heading into St. Louis on Tuesday with a one-game lead.

“They’ve got some pop, they’re a dangerous club,’’ Cardinals manager Mike Matheny said. “They’ve got guys all of the way through that lineup that can hurt you in a hurry. They’ve got some pitching that’s come around, and they’re playing with confidence.

“There’s legit talent on that club that has come together.’’

Still, let’s get back to reality. It may be an interesting narrative now, but the Cubs are going to win this division. Maybe even run away with it. They simply have too much talent. And if they don’t start playing better, you know they’ll be aggressive at the trade deadline, and find another starting pitcher and a veteran hitter.

Funny, a year ago, baseball executives moaned that everything went just right for the Cubs.

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Sept. 30: The Colorado Rockies' Nolan Arenado reacts after hitting a two-run home run against the Washington Nationals in the first inning at Coors Field. The Rockies won the game, 12-0. Ron Chenoy, USA TODAY Sports

Sept. 28: Chicago Cubs shortstop Javier Baez (9) pretends to take a photo of third baseman David Bote (left), right fielder Ben Zobrist (center), and first baseman Anthony Rizzo (right) after their victory over the St. Louis Cardinals at Wrigley Field. Patrick Gorski, USA TODAY Sports

Milwaukee Brewers closer Jeremy Jeffress celebrates after striking out the final batter in the bottom of the ninth in a 2-1 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals to clinch the team's first playoff berth since 2011. Jeff Curry, USA TODAY Sports

Sept. 25: Toronto Blue Jays right fielder Billy McKinney (28) and center fielder Jonathon Davis collide and drop a ball hit by the Houston Astros' Josh Reddick in the sixth inning at Rogers Centre. The Astros won the game, 4-1, and later clinched the AL West title when the Mariners beat the A's in extra innings. John E. Sokolowski, USA TODAY Sports

Sept. 24: The Red Sox celebrate after beating the Orioles for their franchise-record 106th win of the season. Boston passed the prior mark of 105 set way back in 1912. David Butler II, USA TODAY Sports

Sept. 19: Pittsburgh Pirates third baseman Colin Moran tags out the Kansas City Royals' Whit Merrifield on a steal attempt at third base during the fifth inning at PNC Park. The Pirates won the game, 2-1. Charles LeClaire, USA TODAY Sports

Sept. 8: Kansas City Royals starting pitcher Jorge Lopez (52) reacts after leaving the game against the Kansas City Royals at Target Field. Lopez had a perfect game going into the ninth inning. Jeffrey Becker, USA TODAY Sports

Sept. 5: The New York Mets' Jeff McNeil slides into home as Los Angeles Dodgers catcher Yasmani Grandal misses a pass at home plate during the fourth inning at Dodger Stadium. The Mets won the game, 7-3. Kelvin Kuo, USA TODAY Sports

Aug. 30: Chicago Cubs second baseman Javier Baez tags out the Atlanta Braves' Ronald Acuna Jr. during an attempt to steal second during the first inning at SunTrust Park. The Cubs won the game, 5-4. Adam Hagy, USA TODAY Sports

Aug. 29: Chicago Cubs third baseman David Bote (front) collides with relief pitcher Brandon Kintzler as they both try to field a ball hit by New York Mets catcher Kevin Plawecki during the eighth inning at Wrigley Field. The Cubs won the game, 2-1. Jim Young, USA TODAY Sports

Aug. 28: Houston Astros center fielder George Springer makes a diving catch on a fly ball during the first inning against the Oakland Athletics at Minute Maid Park. The A's won the game, 4-3. Troy Taormina, USA TODAY Sports

Aug. 27" The Chicago Cubs' Anthony Rizzo rounds the bases after hitting a solo home run against the New York Mets during the eighth inning at Wrigley Field. The Cubs won the game, 7-4. Patrick Gorski, USA TODAY Sports

Aug. 24: Brewers hitter Lorenzo Cain can't get out of the fast fast enough and takes a pitch to the helmet during the seventh inning against the Pirates. Cain stayed in the game and finished the 15-inning marathon. Jeff Hanisch, USA TODAY Sports

Aug. 21: New York Yankees outfielder Giancarlo Stanton (27) acknowledges the crowd while batting in the first inning for the first time against his former team, the Miami Marlins. Steve Mitchell, USA TODAY Sports

Aug. 17: New York Yankees designated hitter Giancarlo Stanton (27) is congratulated after hitting a solo home run against the Toronto Blue Jays during the seventh inning at Yankee Stadium. Andy Marlin, USA TODAY Sports

Aug. 6: San Francisco Giants left fielder Gorkys Hernandez (7) watches a ball hit by Houston Astros second baseman Marwin Gonzalez clear the fence for a home run in the ninth inning. John Hefti, USA TODAY Sports

July 29: Kansas City Royals right fielder Brett Phillips catches a ball hit by the New York Yankees' Austin Romine for an out in the fourth inning at Yankee Stadium. The Yankees won the game, 6-3. Noah K. Murray, USA TODAY Sports

July 25: The Philadelphia Phillies' Odubel Herrera reacts after scoring during the fifth inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Citizens Bank Park. The Phillies won the game, 7-3. Bill Streicher, USA TODAY Sports

July 22: Boston Red Sox relief pitcher Brandon Workman makes a catch for an out during the seventh inning against the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park. The Red Sox won the game, 9-1. Raj Mehta, USA TODAY Sports

July 23: St. Louis Cardinals starting pitcher Daniel Poncedeleon (right) is hugged by first baseman Jose Martinez (left) in the dugout at the end of the seventh inning against the Cincinnati Reds. Poncedeleon threw seven no-hit innings in his MLB debut. David Kohl, USA TODAY Sports

July 21: Cardinals catcher Yadier Molina waits to tag Cubs baserunner Javier Baez after Baez slid past home plate during the fifth inning in the first game of a doubleheader at Wrigley Field in Chicago. Dennis Wierzbicki, USA TODAY Sports

July 19: Chicago Cubs shortstop Addison Russell reacts to his throwing error which let the St. Louis Cardinals' Tommy Pham to score as the Cardinals' Jose Martinez (left) looks on after being forced out in the eighth inning at Wrigley Field. The Cubs won the game, 9-6. Matt Marton, USA TODAY Sports

July 17: American League infielder Jean Segura of the Seattle Mariners celebrates with third base coach Gary Pettis of the Houston Astros after hitting a three-run home run during the eighth inning against the National League in the All-Star Game at Nationals Ballpark. The American League won the game, 8-6, in 10 innings. Brad Mills, USA TODAY Sports

July 15: Los Angeles Dodgers second baseman Enrique Hernandez (14) celebrates after a solo home run during the seventh inning against the Los Angeles Angels at Dodger Stadium. Kelvin Kuo, USA TODAY Sports

July 13: Atlanta Braves shortstop Dansby Swanson jumps to avoid contact with the Arizona Diamondbacks' Alex Avila after Swanson threw to first base on a double play attempt in the third inning at SunTrust Park. The Diamondbacks won the game, 2-1. Jason Getz, USA TODAY Sports

July 11: The Philadelphia Phillies' Odubel Herrera beats the throw to New York Mets shortstop Amed Rosario for a stolen base in the fourth inning at Citi Field. The Mets won the game, 3-0. Noah K. Murray, USA TODAY Sports

July 10: Atlanta Braves first baseman Freddie Freeman kisses his son Charlie after being honored with his All-Star jersey before Atlanta's game against the Toronto Blue Jays. Jason Getz, USA TODAY Sports

July 8: The Miami Marlins' J.T. Realmuto is tagged out by Washington Nationals first baseman Matt Adams after being caught in a rundown attempting to steal second base in the seventh inning at Nationals Park. The Marlins won the game, 10-2. Geoff Burke, USA TODAY Sports

July 6: Minnesota Twins center fielder Jake Cave leaps above the wall to catch a fly ball for an out during the first inning against the Baltimore Orioles at Target Field. The Twins won the game, 6-2. Jordan Johnson, USA TODAY Sports

The American flag is seen stretched out during the national anthem prior to a game between the Chicago Cubs and the Detroit Tigers at Wrigley Field. The Cubs won the game, 5-2. Patrick Gorski, USA TODAY Sports

July 5: The Milwaukee Brewers' Tyler Saladino slides into home following a wild pitch as Atlanta Braves pitcher Max Fried tries to apply the tag during the second inning at Miller Park. The Brewers won the game, 7-2. Jeff Hanisch, USA TODAY Sports

July 2: New York Yankees right fielder Aaron Judge (99) is unable to make a catch on a two-run home run by Atlanta Braves left fielder Ronald Acuna Jr. (13) during the 11th inning at Yankee Stadium. Adam Hunger, USA TODAY Sports

July 3: The Cincinnati Reds' Billy Hamilton slides safely into home plate against Chicago White Sox catcher Kevan Smith (36) in the eighth inning at Great American Ballpark. The White Sox won the game, 12-8. Aaron Doster, USA TODAY Sports

June 28: Boston Red Sox first baseman Mitch Moreland goes over the railing at the dugout unsuccessfully chasing a foul ball off the bat of the Los Angeles Angels' Albert Pujols during the sixth inning at Fenway Park. The Red Sox won the game, 4-2. Winslow Townson, USA TODAY Sports

June 29: A memorial for Capital Gazette sports writer John McNamara is displayed at a seat in the press box before a game between the Baltimore Orioles and Los Angeles Angels in Baltimore. McNamara is one of five victims in a shooting in the newspaper's newsroom Thursday in Annapolis, Md. The Angels won the game, 7-1. Gail Burton, AP

June 27: A general view of smoke rolling over the field in the eighth inning during a game between the Chicago White Sox and the Minnesota Twins at Guaranteed Rate Field. The White Sox won the game, 6-1. Patrick Gorski, USA TODAY Sports

June 25: New York Yankees second baseman Gleyber Torres (25) is brushed back from a high inside pitch during the second inning against the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park. Eric Hartline, USA TODAY Sports

June 26: The Pittsburgh Pirates' Josh Harrison slides into New York Mets second baseman Asdrubal Cabrera to break up a double play during the eighth inning at Citi Field. The Mets won the game, 4-3, in 10 innings. Brad Penner, USA TODAY Sports

June 24: Pittsburgh Pirates shortstop Sean Rodriguez turns a double play over the Arizona Diamondbacks' John Ryan Murphy during the seventh inning at PNC Park. The Diamondbacks won the game, 3-0. Charles LeClaire, USA TODAY Sports

June 22: Pittsburgh Pirates third baseman David Freese takes a high throw on a pickoff attempt of the Arizona Diamondbacks' Nick Ahmed at third base during the fifth inning at PNC Park. The Diamondbacks won the game, 2-1, in 13 innings. Charles LeClaire, USA TODAY Sports

June 19: Boston Red Sox catcher Sandy Leon tags out the Minnesota Twins' Robbie Grossman as he attempts to tag up on a sacrifice fly in the eighth inning at Target Field. The Twins won the game, 6-2. Bruce Kluckhohn, USA TODAY Sports

June 20: Cincinnati Reds right fielder Jesse Winker (right) slides safely into second for a double against Detroit Tigers shortstop Jose Iglesias (left) during the second inning at Great American Ball Park. David Kohl, USA TODAY Sports

June 18: The Kansas City Royals' Abraham Almonte scores ahead of the tag by Texas Rangers catcher Robinson Chirinos in the third inning at Kauffman Stadium. The Rangers won the game, 6-3. Jay Biggerstaff, USA TODAY Sports

June 16: Chicago White Sox right fielder Trayce Thompson (32) climbs the fence to try and catch the three-run home run off the bat of the Detroit Tigers' Nicholas Castellanos during the third inning at Guaranteed Rate Field. The Tigers won the game, 7-5. Dennis Wierzbicki, USA TODAY Sports

June 12: Reds baserunner Scooter Gennett, right, is tagged out at home by Royals catcher Salvador Perez, left, in the second inning at Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City, Mo. Jay Biggerstaff, USA TODAY Sports

June 9: The San Diego Padres' Travis Jankowski is tagged out by Miami Marlins shortstop JT Riddle at second base in the first inning at Marlins Park. The Padres won the game, 5-4. Steve Mitchell, USA TODAY Sports

June 8: Milwaukee Brewers center fielder Lorenzo Cain makes a catch on a ball that was bobbled by shortstop Orlando Arcia (3) during the eighth inning against the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park. The Brewers won the game, 12-4. Eric Hartline, USA TODAY Sports

June 7:Tampa Bay Rays first baseman Jake Bauers attempted to force out the Seattle Mariners' Jean Segura as he singles during the first inning at Tropicana Field. The Mariners won the game, 5-4. Kim Klement, USA TODAY Sports

June 3: St. Louis Cardinals starting pitcher Michael Wacha is doused after he took a no-hitter into the ninth inning of the Cardinals' 5-0 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates. Scott Rovak, USA TODAY Sports

May 31: The Philadelphia Phillies' Maikel Franco scores off a single by Jorge Alfaro as Los Angeles Dodgers catcher Yasmani Grandal is unable to handle the throw at home plate during the second inning at Dodger Stadium. The Phillies won the game, 2-1. Kelvin Kuo, USA TODAY Sports

May 29: Astros right fielder George Springer goes up but can't catch the game-tying two-run home run by the Yankees' Brett Gardner (not pictured) during the ninth inning at Yankee Stadium in New York. Brad Penner, USA TODAY Sports

May 21: Washington Nationals left fielder Juan Soto is doused with water after the game against the San Diego Padres at Nationals Park. Soto hit his first career home run as the Nationals won, 10-2. Brad Mills, USA TODAY Sports

May 22: Phillies catcher Jorge Alfaro leaps out of the way of Braves baserunner Ozzie Albies, who scored on a throwing error during the fifth inning at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia Eric Hartline, USA TODAY Sports

May 18: Yankees left fielder Brett Gardner, left, catches the ball as he collides with center fielder Aaron Hicks in the second inning against the Royals at Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City, Mo. Jay Biggerstaff, USA TODAY Sports

May 14: The Milwaukee Brewers' Tyler Saladino safely dives home in front of Arizona Diamondbacks catcher John Ryan Murphy for an inside-the-park home run in the ninth inning at Chase Field. The Brewers won the game, 7-2. Jennifer Stewart, USA TODAY Sports

May 16: Brewers players throw confetti on teammate Christian Yelich (22) in the dugout after his two-run home run in the second inning against the Diamondbacks at Chase Field. Mark J. Rebilas, USA TODAY Sports

May 15: Fans watch as the grounds crew remove a tarp from the field as a rainbow emerges over Citi Field before a game between the New York Mets and the Toronto Blue Jays. The Mets won the game, 12-2. Brad Penner, USA TODAY Sports

May 11: Texas Rangers starting pitcher Cole Hamels delivers a pitch during the third inning against the Houston Astros at Minute Maid Park. Hamels and three other pitchers combined to one-hit the Astros in a 1-0 win. Troy Taormina, USA TODAY Sports

May 6: Yankees rookie Gleyber Torres is doused with Gatorade by his teammates after hitting a walk-off three-run home run to beat the Indians at Yankee Stadium in New York. Wendell Cruz, USA TODAY Sports

May 7: George Springer (4) high fives teammates Max Stassi (12) and Josh Reddick after batting them in with a three-run home run against the Oakland Athletics during the second inning at Oakland Coliseum. Springer had a team-record six hits as the Astros won, 16-2. Kelley L Cox, USA TODAY Sports

April 27: Cleveland Browns first-round draft picks Denzel Ward, left, and Baker Mayfield, right, throw out the ceremonial first pitches before the Indians' home game against the Mariners at Progressive Field in Cleveland. Scott R. Galvin, USA TODAY Sports

April 24: A Yankees security guard takes down a fan who ran onto the field during the seventh inning during the Yankees' game against Twins at Yankee Stadium in New York. Noah K. Murray, USA TODAY Sports

April 26: White Sox third baseman Yolmer Sanchez warms up before a game against the Royals at Kauffman Stadium while wearing a shirt in tribute to teammate Danny Farquhar, who suffered a brain hemorrhage in the team's dugout on April 20. Peter G. Aiken, USA TODAY Sports

April 23: Dogs walk on the field during Dog Day at Guaranteed Rate Field before a game between the Chicago White Sox and the Seattle Mariners. The White Sox won the game, 10-4. David Banks, USA TODAY Sports

April 22: Milwaukee Brewers second baseman Jonathan Villar passes time in the dugout during a 4-2 win over the Miami Marlins at Miller Park. With the win, the Brewers completed a four-game sweep of the Marlins. Benny Sieu, USA TODAY Sports

April 19: The Phillies' Nick Williams, left, and J.P. Crawford celebrate in 1970's throwback jerseys during their game against the Pirates at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia. Eric Hartline, USA TODAY Sports

April 11: The New York Yankees' Tyler Austin starts a scrum with Boston Red Sox relief pitcher Joe Kelly during the seventh inning at Fenway Park. The Yankees won the game, 10-7. Winslow Townson, USA TODAY Sports

April 5: St. Louis Cardinals third baseman Yairo Munoz (34) reacts after umpire Mike Muchlinski (76) called a strike during the second inning against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Busch Stadium. Jeff Curry, USA TODAY Sports

April 3: Los Angeles Angels designated hitter Shohei Ohtani (17) rounds the bases after hitting a three-run home run in the first inning against the Cleveland Indians in his first ever regular season at bat at Angel Stadium of Anaheim. Kirby Lee, USA TODAY Sports

April 2: Cleveland Indians designated hitter Edwin Encarnacion rounds third base on an inside-the-park home run in the second inning against the Los Angeles Angels at Angel Stadium of Anaheim. The Indians won the game, 6-0. Jayne Kamin-Oncea, USA TODAY Sports

April 1: The Los Angeles Angels' Shohei Ohtani makes his major-league debut as a starting pitcher in a 7-4 win over the Oakland Athletics at the Oakland Coliseum. Ohtani pitched six innings, gave up three runs, struck out six and got the win. Kelley L Cox, USA TODAY Sports

March 31: Seattle Mariners center fielder Dee Gordon (9) watches a home run off the bat of the Cleveland Indians' Yan Gomes go over the wall during the fourth inning at Safeco Field. The Indians won the game, 6-5. Joe Nicholson, USA TODAY Sports

March 29: Giancarlo Stanton (right) celebrates a two-run home run in the first inning with New York Yankees left fielder Brett Gardner. Stanton hit two home runs in his Yankees debut, and New York beat the Toronto Blue Jays, 6-1, on Opening Day at Rogers Centre. Nick Turchiaro, USA TODAY Sports